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(11)

EP 2 222 238 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 01.09.2010 Bulletin 2010/35 (21) Application number: 08840844.8 (22) Date of filing: 22.10.2008

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61B 17/86(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2008/080682 (87) International publication number: WO 2009/055407 (30.04.2009 Gazette 2009/18)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA MK RS (30) Priority: 23.10.2007 US 71 (71) Applicant: K2M, Inc. Leesburg, VA 20175 (US)	(72) Inventors: BARRUS, Michael Ashburn VA 20147 (US) HAGGENMAKER, Jennifer Summit Point 25446 (US) (74) Representative: HOFFMANN EITLE  Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)